Landscape Architecture

Daniel Burnham and the National Mall

One of Chicago architect Daniel Burnham's lesser-known achievements was a rethinking of the National Mall, bringing ideas- like a reflecting pool- from his designs for the Columbian Exhibition of 1893.

January 20, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

New Orleans Riverfront Redevelopment Approved

Plans to redevelop a section of the Mississippi Riverfront in New Orleans have been approved and construction could begin by the end of 2009.

January 16, 2009 - New Orleans Times-Picayune

Cities See The Light

Through festivals, lighting master plans, and creative integrations of artistic interpretations, cities across the world are harnessing the power of light to reinvigorate neglected areas and renew public interest.

January 12, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Canada's 'Ice War'

Winnipeg and Ottawa are facing off over which city has the world's longest -- and best -- ice trail.

January 9, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Cities and Cognitive Burnout

Compared to natural settings, busy urban environments can be detrimental to cognitive functioning and self-control. Well-designed, biodiverse parks are integral to counterbalancing the concrete jungle.

January 7, 2009 - The Boston Globe

New York City's Ever-Evolving Union Square

Controversy surrounds a $20 million redesign of New York City's Union Square Park.

January 1, 2009 - The New York Times

Revisiting the Future of Ecotopia

Ecotopia is a '70s cult novel that imagines a future where the Pacific Northwest secedes from the U.S. to become an environmentally-conscious utopian state. The NY Times reflects on the influence of this under-recognized novel.

December 25, 2008 - The New York Times

An Architectural Beacon of Hope in Skid Row

On the edge of Los Angeles' Skid Row, a gleaming white arts complex opens. A "stubborn declaration of hope," the center is intended to show architecture's power to create community.

December 17, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Duany Improves on Thomas Jefferson

Planner Andres Duany proposes a plan for Goodbee Square, near Covington, LA, that adds modern light-imprint urbanism to an old Jeffersonian idea.

December 13, 2008 - New Urban News

A Plan for Hudson Park

Hudson Park and Boulevard is a new 4-acre system of parks being created in New York. Landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates were selected to make their vision reality.

December 12, 2008 - The Architect's Newspaper

Not Your Typical Brick

Bricks have been a building staple for a long time, but the sky's the limit for their aesthetic uses.

December 10, 2008 - GOOD Magazine

City Tackles Coyotes

Austin officials are wrestling with how to confront coyotes encroaching on suburban and urban neighborhoods.

December 4, 2008 - News 8 Austin

Clearing the Way for Mixed-Use, But Economy Puts Projects On Hold

The people of Salt Lake City have gotten behind the switch to mixed-use, and developers have been clearing away old sprawl. But the flailing economy has put projects on hold, leaving the city with a landscape full of holes.

December 3, 2008 - Utah Stories

From Garbage Hole to Park

Turning a New York landfill into a park may just reorganize the way people think about public parks in America.

November 30, 2008 - New York Magazine

L.A. Freeway Cap Park Edges Towards Feasibility

For years, citizens have been calling for a freeway cap and park in Hollywood. Now, a preliminary design has been released and advocates say work could begin as soon as 2012 -- if funding comes through.

November 28, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

A New 'Wave' On Toronto's Waterfront

Toronto has created new public space where there was none, building a curvy wooden plaza designer Adriaan Geuze calls a 'WaveDeck' directly over the water.

November 27, 2008 - Metropolis

New Yorkers Still Oppose Park Redesign Already Underway

Plans to redesign New York City's Washington Square Park have been hotly protested by community members since their inception. The work is already underway, but the opposition sentiment remains.

November 26, 2008 - The New York Times

'Firescaping' For Fire Safety

The first 'firescape' garden is in Santa Barbara, CA, and stands as an educational tool for landscaping homes for fire protection.

November 24, 2008 - edhat

Concrete Poems

St. Paul, Minnesota's artist-in-residence has instituted a program where poems are imprinted into sidewalks throughout the city.

November 24, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

Landscape Architecture, Reinvented

Landscape architect James Corner pushes the envelope of the field to create innovative projects like The High Line Park in New York. 'There is a desperate need for a different kind of professional who isn’t so Balkan­ized.'

November 20, 2008 - Metropolis

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.